Open campaigning allowed in PAS polls

Candidates for the upcoming PAS election next month will be allowed to campaign, so as long as they abide by Islamic values, according to the party's election committee.

Its chairperson Abdul Halim Abdul Rahman said that although no regulations governing party election campaigning exist, the committee would not be issuing guidelines.

"Our duty is only to manage the election of the exco and the wings, that is the scope allotted to us," said Abdul Halim at a press conference today.

"Only the PAS central committee can decide on ( the guidelines). I cannot ‘overrule' them," he added.

Candidate are free to campaign, Abdul Halim said (right), pointing out that PAS emphasises Islamic values when fielding questions from the press on campaign ethics.

Complaints of misconduct during that period will be handled either by the disciplinary committee or the central committee, he added.

Secretariat officer Khairul Anwar Mat Zuki elaborated that complaints have to be made by the respective branchs or districts and be based on proof provided.

"Individual complaints such as blog postings will not be taken into consideration," added Khairul Anwar.

Nominations for the PAS election have closed and nominees have until May 26 to accept or decline.

Smooth sailing so far

When asked if there had been suggestions for campaign guidelines, Abdul Halim ,who is also Pengkala Chepa MP, said he did not see a need for that.

He added that there have been no suggestions but that will happen if the need arises.

"Currently the situation is calm. Those who are campaigning are doing it quietly," he said.

Compared to two years ago when the campaign was heated, Abdul Halim said at present things were going smoothly.

To a question, Abdul Halim said that the committee was in the dark about the number of nominations as it had to remain absolutely independent.

As such he said he could not disclose the nominations received by candidates for the post of deputy president, one of the hotly contested posts that incumbent PAS Nasharuddin Mat Isa is defending against a major challenge from Mohamad Sabu.

During the press conference, Abdul Halim also disclosed that 87 candidates are in the running for central committee posts.

Candidate may contest multiple posts

In a related development, PAS secretary-general Mustafa Ali (left) had said yesterday that members receiving nominations for more than one post may contest them.

"For example, a candidate who accepted nominations for deputy president, vice president and central committee member posts and agreed to contest the posts can inform the election committee.

"However, to date nobody has done that. At most they will contest only two posts as the party constitution allows it," he told Bernama.

Should a candidate win two posts, the lower post will be rejected to be filled by the first runner-up.

Vice-president Salahuddin Ayub had been nominated for the deputy president, vice-president and central committee member posts.

He confirmed that he will not be going for the deputy president's post, bowing out to more qualified candidates.

Vice-president Mahfuz Omar, treasurer Mohd Hatta Ramli, central committee members Mohamad Sabu and Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin also received nomination to contest for more than one post.

The polls for the central leadership will take place during the party's muktamar, scheduled for June 3 to June 5 in Taman Melewar, Selangor.